Machine for applying covers to crates



Get. 9, 1934. H. PLATT MACHINE FOR APPLYING COVERS TO CRATES Filed Jan. 21, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 9, 1934. PLATT 1,976,033

MACHINE FOR APPLYING COVERS TO CRATES Filed Jan. 21, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 In aerator L e/an a. if .P/a'. tt

Patented 0a. 9, 1934 PATENT OFFICE mcnma roa APPLYING covans 'ro cm'ras Leland H. Plait, Los Angeles, cum, calm: to Clara B. Parker, Riverside, Calif.

Application January 21, 1931, Serial No. 510,194

5 Claim.

This invention relates generaly to presses for applying covers to crates containing fruit, vegetables and the like, and has particularly to do with an improved mechanism for gathering the lining paper and overflow of the crate into position beneath the cover as it is being applied to the crate.

In the crating of fruits and vegetables the crate is usually lined with suitable packing paper and thereafter overfilled, with the result that the cover must be bent downwardly over the top of the contents in the process of nailing the cover to the crate. The lining paper usually projects upwardly and outwardly beyond sides of the crate to such an extent that normally it would not be folded beneath the cover as the latter is applied,

Furthermore, the contents of the crate may also project somewhat beyond the sides, so that it becomes desirable to gather such overflow into place beneath the cover before or as the latter is applied.

By the present invention 1 have provided what may be termed an overflow gathering mechanism which is operable in conjunction with the cover applying mechanism to bring about the gathering of any overflow material projecting beyond the sides of the crate, into position beneath the cover. A particular advantage of the present type of gather mechanism resides in the fact that it not only serves to properly place the fruit or vegetable content of the crate, but also to fold the lining paper over the top of the contents in a manner such that the folded over portion of the paper is securely held by the cover when applied.

In my copending application on crate press, Ser. No. 346,659, filed March 13, 1929, I show a gathering mechanism which operates to accomplish certain of the results described hereinabove, but which is mounted on the carrier by means of which the cover is applied to the crate. The present type of gather mechanism differs most essentialy from that described in Ser. No. 346,659, in that instead of being supported on the cover carrier, it is mounted therebelow and upon relatively stationary frame elements of the machine. It may be mentioned however that in certain of its broader aspects the invention is not to be regarded as limited to a gathering mechanism construcwd and mounted in the particular manner shown and hereinafter described, since certain features of the invention may be embodied in a variety of forms of such mechanisms.

Having set forth generally certain of the objects and characteristics of the invention, I shall now proceed to a detailed description of a typical and preferred embodiment of the invention.

Reference is had throughout the description to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the crate press, the overflow gathering members being shown in their outer positions;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1 as viewed from the right thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, the gathering members being shown in their inner positions with the cover ap- 05 plied to the crate; and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing in detail one of the gathering plate assemblies with the parts in the positions shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the press frame comprises uprights or legs 10, 10a for supporting the crate rest or table generally indicated at 11 the latter comprising a pair of parallel rails 12, the upper edges of which are curved downwardly as at 13 to enable the crate bottom to bulge downwardly when pressure is applied to the contents of the crate by the cover carrier. Rollers 14 are mounted between the ends of the supporting rails 12 to facilitate sliding of the crate to and from cover applying position thereon. Mounted be- 0 tween rails 12 is a vertically movable crate supporting structure generally indicated at 15, and comprising a rectangular frame 16 carrying a plurality of rollers 17 extending parallel with the end rollers 14. The frame 16 is yieldably sup- 35 ported on springs 18 placed around rods 19 de pending from the frame 16 and extending through guide openings, not shown, in the horizontal frame members 20. Springs 18 are of suflicient strength to support the crate 21, shown in dotted lines, 0 without appreciable downward movement of the frame 16. As pressure is applied to the contents of the crate by the cover carrier, causing the bottom of the crate to bulge into the curved recesses in the supporting rails, the supporting 5 structure 15 is displaced downwardly against the resistance of springs 18 to accommodate bulging of the bottom of the crate.

The frame comprises a pair of spaced vertical members 22 carried on the inner sides of channel irons 23 which serve as guides for the vertically movable carrier frame 24. The latter carries a pair of horizontally extending arms 25 to which is secured the cover holder 26. The cover holder extends vertically above the crate supporting structure, and, as indicated in Fig. 2, comprises a downwardly curved plate of sheet metal, the direction of curvature of which is opposite to that of the recess 13 in the supporting rails 11. The carrier 26 is provided with suitable means, diagrammatically indicated by lugs 27, for releasably holding the crate cover 28.

The cover carrier is operated in its downward vertical movement by compressed air drive, this particular feature comprising the subject matter of my copending application on Crate press, Ser. No. 346,658, filed March 13, 1929. Mounted on an upper horizontal frame member 30 extending between the vertical supports 22 is a cylinder 31 containing a vertically movable plunger 32, the rod 33 of which is pivotally connected at 34 with an extension on the carrier frame 24. The plunger is actuated by compressed air delivered through line 36 to the upper end of the cylinder from the compressed air supply tank 37, the delivery of air to the cylinder 31 being controllable as herelnafter described. Air is supplied to tank 37 through line 38 by means of compressor 39 driven by motor 40. Thus downward movement or the cover carrier 26 to apply the cover to the crate is accomplished by forcing plunger 32 downward by compressed air introduced to the upper end of the cylinder. Upward return movement of the cover carrier and the frame 24 is effected by means of coil springs 41 secured at their upper ends to the frame member 30 and at their lower ends to the carrier frame.

Mounted at opposite sides of the crate support is a pair of vertically extending arms 42 and 43 which are capable of limited oscillatory movement between the limits of the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Arm 42 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends at 44 between angle plates 45 joined to frame member 20 and the outer supporting rail 12. The lower end of arm 43 is pivotally mounted at 43a on angle plate 46, see Fig. 1. Arm 43 it will be noted has its pivotal mounting at a point below the pivot point 44 of the opposing arm 42.

Carried on the upper end of each of the arms 42 and 43 is a gathering plate assembly generally indicated at 56 and comprising a carrier plate 47 extending longitudinally of the crate supporting and substantially parallel with the sides of the crate when the latter is in cover applying position. The upper edge 47a of the carrier is curved downwardly, more or less in conformity with the curvature of the cover carrier 26, and preferably the length of plate 47 will be somewhat less than the length of the cover carrier. Plate 47 is mounted so as to be capable of vertical movement relative to its supporting arm, reasons for which will hereinafter appear. As a typical means for so mounting the carrier plate I have shown it to be carried on a shank 48 of polygonal cross section extending downwardly through a hearing or sleeve 49 on the upper end of the arm. Plate 47 is yieldably supported against downward movement by means of a coil spring 50 placed about the shank, upward movement of the plate being limited by the engagement of head 51 on the lower end of the shank with the bottom of the bearing 49.

On the inner sides of plates 47 adjacent thereto is mounted a pair of gathering members or wings 52 which conform in shape substantially to end sections of plate 47 as clearly indicated in Fig. 4. Wings 52 are pivotally joined at 53 to plate 47 at opposite sides of its longitudinal center, the wings being pivotally movable from the upper solid line position shown .to the lower dotted line positions indicated at 52a. Wings normally are yieldably held in their raised positions by means of a coil spring 54 joined to the wings near their inner ends. As shown most clearly in Fig. 3, each of the wings is shaped to form a flange 55 projecting inwardly from its upper edge, flange 55 being of such length that when the gathering plate assemblies are moved to their inner positions as shown in Fig. 3, flanges 55 will project a substantial distance inwardly from the edge of the crate cover 28.

As shown most clearly in Fig. 3, arms 42 and 43 are interconnected by means of a link or bar 57 pivotally joined to arm 43 at 58 above its pivotal mounting 45, and to arm 42 at 59 at a distance below its pivot 44. The arms normally are held in their spread or outer positions shown in Fig. 1 by means of spring 60 anchored to the frame at 61 and joined at 62 to arm 43. It will be apparent that by virtue of the linkage between the arms, movement of one of the arms inwardly or outwardly will cause a corresponding movement of the other arm.

As a convenient means for operating the arm assembly in timed relation with the operation of the cover carrier, I have provided a compressed air drive for the arms by means of which they are moved from their outer to innermost positions in the process of gathering the crate overflow beneath the cover. Mounted on a lower 1 transverse frame member 621 is a cylinder 63 within which is an air operated pistion 64, the rod 65 of which is connected with the lower end of arm 42 by way of the pivoted link 66. Compressed air is delivered from tank 37 to cylinder 63 by way of line 67, valve 68 and line 69 leading into the rear end of the cylinder. Valve 68 is operable to permit the discharge of compressed air from the supply tank to cylinder 64 by means of foot lever 70. As shown most clearly in Fig. 1, line 36, through which air is supplied to the upper end of cylinder 31, leads into the side of cylinder 63 at a point 71 intermediate its ends, the location of point 71 being predetermined in accordance with the length of of stroke of plunger 64 as will hereinafter appear.

It may be mentioned at this point that the air pressure in the plunger chambers within cylinders 31 and 63 may be relieved through line 69 by way of relief valve 72 which is operated by a foot lever 73, the exhaust air passing through the valve being discharged through line 74.

In operating the press, the crate 21 is moved onto the support 11 from the left as viewed in Fig. 2, the crate being guided along a horizontal bar 75 carried on supports 76. The left end of the bar is bent outwardly away from the crate as at 77. The crate is positioned longitudinally on the support by engagement with a stop 78 carried on the right end of the guide bar. As shown in Fig. 1, the uncovered crate is overfilled, and usually the contents 79, and also the paper 80 with which the crate is lined, will project somewhat beyond the sides of the crate as indicated. As previously explained the function of the gathering plate assemblies 56 is to gather the contents of the crate projecting beyond the sides into position beneath the cover or as the latter is applied to the crate.

Assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 1, the operator, by stepping on foot lever 70, causes air pressure to be applied from tank 37 through lines 67 and 69 to cylinder 63, causing the piston 64 to be driven to the right. Arms 42 and 43 are thereby operated so as to bring the gathering plate assemblies 56 inwardly toward the crate and to the point at which the wings 52 and the end portions of the carriers 47 are brought to engage the overflow contents of the crate projected beyond the sides. The gathering plate assemblies are moved inwardly until the supporting arms reach substantially the position shown in Fig. 3, and during their inward movement flanges 55 on the upper edges 0! the wings 52 are caused to engage the lining paper 80 so as to fold it inwardly beneath the cover. It may be mentioned that both the carrier plate 47 and the wings 52 may be effective in displacing the projecting contents oi the crate beneath the cover.

Inordertoinsurethatthecratewillbeproperly positioned laterally of its supports, guide bar82 maybemountedonthe innersideoiarm 42, bar 82 being caused to engage the side oi the crateasthearmmoves inwardlyso astobrin's the crate flush against the 0119 1118 guide bar '75. Substantially at the point at which the arms 42 and 43 are moved to their innermost positions, piston 6A in ylinder 63'i's moved past the point 71 at which line 36 leads into the side oi the cylinder, compressed air then being delivered through line 36 into the upper end of cylinder 31 so as to cause downward movement oi piston 32 and the cover carrier 26. As the cover carrier moves downwardly, the cover 28 is brought into engagement with flanges 55 of thewings 52, and during downward travel of the cover carrier to the limiting position of Fig. 3, wings 52 are swung downwardly against the resistance of spring 54 to the dotted line positions 520. During downward movement of the carrier, the cover 28 is bent downwardly over the contents of the crate to the point at which the ends 0! the cover may be ,nailedtothecrate. Asthewinssszareswung downwardly by engagement with the cover, the paper toward the ends 0! the crate which had not previously been folded beneath the cover as the gathering plate assemblies moved inwardly toward the crate, is folded over throughout the length of the crate. I

After the cover is nailed in place, the air pressure on pistons 32 and 64 may be relieved by cl valve 68 by releasing foot lever 70,-and allowing the air in the cylinders to exhaust through line 74 by stepp on toot lever 73 and thus opening the relief valve '72. Upon release of pressure on piston 84, arms 42and 43 are immediately swung to their outer positions by the action of spring 60, the latter being or! considarable strength in order to remove the projecting flanges on the wings from beneath the cover.

as previously described, the gathering plate assemblies 56 preferably are mounted so as to be vertically movable. This provision is made in order that should there be substantial variation in the heights of the crates, the gathering plate ablies will be capable o1 bodily vertical displacement to permit the cover carrier to move to ting positions in accordance with the height of the crate.

1.111 a crate press, the combination comprising a frame, a crate rest adapted to support an uncovered crate,arelatively vertically movable cover holder above said rest, a vertically extending arm pivotally mounted at one side 0! said rest and movable laterally relative to the crate, a carrier member mounted on the upper end oi! said arm, an overflow gathering member pivotally mounted on saidcarrier member, and means 501' operating said am. I

2. In a crate press, the combination comprising a irame, a crate rest adapted to support an uncovered crate, a relatively vertically movable cover holder above said support, a vertically extending arm pivotally mounted at one side 0! said support and movable laterally relative to the crate, a carrier plate extending longitudinally of said support and mounted on the upper end oi. said arm, and the upper edge of said plate beingcurved downwardly toward its ends, a pair oi! vertically movable gathering plate wings pivotally' mounted on said plate at opposite sides of said am, said wings being shaped substantially in conformity with said carrier plate, yielding means interconnecting said wings and serving to normally hold the outer ends 01 the wingsabove the carrier, and means for operating said arm.

3. In a crate press, the combination comprising, a frame, a crate rest adapted to support. an uncovered crate, a relatively vertically movable holder above said support, said holder being adapted to press a cover on said crate, means for moving said crate rest and cover holder relatively vertically, a pair of laterally movable overflow gathering members, said members being movable to overlapping positions with the underside of the cover, said gathering membersalso being vertically movable upon engagement by said cover, means for actuating said members, and means for operating both of said means in predetermined timed relation.

4. In a crate press, the combination comprising, a crate support adapted to support an uncovered crate, a cover pressing superstructure above said support and including means for holding a cover at its opposite edges, said support and superstructure belng' relatively vertically movable to press a cover on the crate, and an overflow gathering member, movable with relation to the crate support and crate, and adapted to be bodily proiected between the vertical wall and cover thereoi and in overlapping relation with the cover during relative movement of said superstructure and crate support to cover applying position, said member being adapted to be withdrawn from between the vertical wall and ccver'oi the crate alter application of the cover to the crate.

5. In a crate press, the combination comprising, a crate support adapted to support an uncovered elongated crate, a cover pressing superstructure above said support and including means for bolding a cover at its opposite edges, means for moving said support and superstructure relatively vertically to press a cover on the crate, a pair of elongated, thin edged gathering members at opposite longitudinal sides of the crate, movable laterally with relation to the crate, and means for moving said gathering members, in predetermined timed relation with the operation of the first mentioned means, between the side and cover parts thereof and in overlapping relation with the under surface of the cover, during relative movement together of said superstructure and crate support, and in advance 0! movement of the cover into engagement with the crate, said members being adapted to be withdrawn from between the cover and side parts of the crate after application of the cover to the crate.

LELAND H. 

